My stomach drops. “What happened?”
Ares is already crossing the room and a part of me is waiting for him to tell me he’s buried in the backyard. “He’s okay, he just…” He turns to look towards the closed bathroom door, and it’s only then I hear the faint sounds of the shower running.
“He’s kind of freaking out.”He switches to telepathy so Osiris can’t hear us talking about him. I’d feel worse about it if they hadn’t done it to me so much in the beginning.
Why?
Ares shares a look with Cole as I’m clearly cut out of the conversation. Cole sputters out a laugh and I smack the bandage on his arm, knowing it’s healed enough that I don’t feel repentant.
“What?”
“He was pulling a Rin and overthinking shit, beautiful, that’s all. You were having a breakdown in the gas station while he was having a mini meltdown here. It’s adorable, nothing bad.”
The water shuts off and my breath hitches in my chest, leaving me a nervous wreck. It’s like meeting a stranger on the internet for the first time, only to have the rendezvous at a secluded cabin in the woods. What the hell am I so scared about? Cole’s right, I already know him.
What I wouldn’t give for a few shots of rum right now to steady my nerves, though.
Ozzy comes out of the bathroom towel drying his hair, but dressed. And thank fuck, because if he’d been only in a towel, my ovaries might have exploded. His hair is a bit longer than Cole’s, but the same shade of obsidian. A light five-o-clock shadow covers his jaw, highlighting his bright, golden eyes.
Motherfucker. They just had to throw another one at me, didn’t they? Why’s it so hot that he’s wanted for murdering my husband? Why don’t I care?
“It’s called being horny,”Cole teases and I snap out of my ogling to playfully smack his arm while he laughs at me.
“Get out of my head,” I snap. Because if he heard me, they all did, and that’s more than a little embarrassing. “Useless chastity belt, I’m telling you,” I mutter, glaring.
He snorts, reaching into one of his bags and tossing something to Ozzy. He catches it, but his unwavering gaze stays locked on me. I shift from foot to foot, just waiting for either the floor to open up and swallow me whole, or someone to take point navigating the awkward stage we’ve found ourselves in.
“So, it worked.”
“Smooth,”Ares praises in my head before I growl. He steps away laughing, grabbing the bag from my hand and dumping it on the free bed with Cole so they can pick through things to trade like a couple of kids on Halloween.
“Seems so,” Osiris agrees, looking just as uncomfortable as I am.
I bite the inside of my cheek as I replay weeks of interaction; namely petting him like an oversized cat and how often he was rubbing all over me. “Feeling alright?”
He smirks. “Mild discomfort, but that could either be how long it’s been since shifting or just the conversation.” He cocks his head to the side. “Less of an adjustment if we communicate like usual? I know saying things aloud is difficult enough sometimes, let alone with those two listening in.”
I take a steadying breath. “It’s okay. I think I actually need to get out of my head more often.”
He smiles, stretching out his hand in offering. “Care to join me for dinner?”
Releasing a heavy exhale that takes some of my tension with it, I take his hand, reminding myself what Cole said. I already know this man, no matter what form he’s in. If I get out of my own way, I’d notice the way my body instinctively relaxes when I’m close to him, and surrounded by all three of them?
Even this cheap motel room feels like home.
Despite the sugar high I’m already riding, I grab a handful of candies from Ares’ box, loving the way his eyes light up happily when I do. It’s such a little thing, but to him, it means so much. I’m not blind to the way he’s gradually been getting me to accept that it isn’t the end of the world to overindulge on occasion, and right now, we have plenty of reason to celebrate.
Twenty
Osiris
The hilt of my closed pocket knife comes down again and I twist it for good measure.
“What are you doing?” Rin asks, coming to peer over my shoulder and I fight the compulsion to lick her neck. I’ve spent far too long with my instincts driving my actions that it’s hard to shove them back down for human manners.
I scoop the pulverized powder off of the end table and into my hand, walking towards Ian who still hasn’t woken up. “If he’s recouping from using too much energy, then some sugar should do him good. Can’t hurt at least; body needs fuel to heal.” Parting his lips, I trickle the powder into his mouth slowly so that it can dissolve without worrying about him choking or trying to get him to involuntarily swallow anything.
“Should we grab a bottle of syrup next time we stop?” she asks, canting her head to the side and watching for any change in the mage’s condition.
